5930K or 5960X?

[Jayhawk]

I've come to the realization that when I blow all my summer cash ($3000+) next year on an X99 build, I most likely won't be able to upgrade my CPU for quite a few years (3-5). I'm planning to build a custom water cooling loop to overclock my CPU to 4 GHz and 3 R9 390Xs, assuming that the GPUs are at least half as good as I expect them to be. I know that 6 cores are already overkill, let alone 8 cores, but I want a true enthusiast grade gaming PC. I understand that games are starting to use six cores, and eight soon I hope, and want to make sure that I am not at all going to be bottlenecked in games that are heavily CPU limited, such as Arma, in the coming years. I'd also most likely be using AutoCAD and rendering videos (8+ hours after live streams) in the near future. So, should I go ahead and plan for a 5960X in my budget or would it be more reasonable to get a 5930K and grab a 4th GPU and the necessary water blocks, fittings, etc..?

[79wjd]

For gaming don't go x99 it's such a waste. 

 

It would make a LOT more sense to go z97 (and max out any current games), and by the time games can use 6-8 cores, then get a 6/8core i7 on the consumer platform as it will be Much faster than x99 chips now and still cost the same total cost (if not less). 

 

As for rendering...well, it depends how important render speeds are. If its SUPER important to render faster (i.e. for a job) than 5960x. 

 

P.s. three/four way SLI/XFIRE scales poorly for gaming. 

[Laederem]

Usually X parts are unreasonably expensive, stick with the 5930k. 

What it sounds like you want is more than your approximate budget anyway, so start cutting. 

...also I would stick to two GPUs but that's just me.

[vern021]

For gaming don't go x99 it's such a waste. 

Well one benefit of getting X99 is all dem PCI-E lanes(probabilty of less bottlenecks w/ 3 390X(allegedly)).

[79wjd]

Well one benefit of getting X99 is all dem PCI-E lanes(probabilty of less bottlenecks w/ 3 390X(allegedly)).

3.0x8x4x4 won't bottlneck anyway

[Enderman]

Yes games can use 8 cores. This is why you buy a 4790k. You won't need anything more than that for another half decade.

[Litargirio]

Games seldom use more than 4 cores, so the 5960X is not overkill, but useless.

Games, most of them, will not use as many as 4 GPUs; and if they do, performance will likely not scale properly.

Either way, you're wasting money.

Yes games can use 8 cores. This is why you buy a 4790k. You won't need anything more than that for another half decade.

[bomerr]

A. X99 is going to be obsolete by next year. 

B. 5930k is a complete waste of money because 99% of people don't need those extra lanes. Go with the 5960x.

C. 4 Ghz is a joke for these CPUs. If you aren't hitting over 4.5 Ghz stable on water then you should have stayed with air. 

D. 3 R9 390X... Why? 2 GTX 980s run 4K at 50-60 fps. 2 390X should be even more powerful.

E. Agreed with everyone else about wasting money and I'm already on X99 with the 5820k. 

[Geekazoid]

Yes games can use 8 cores. This is why you buy a 4790k. You won't need anything more than that for another half decade.

I agree with this. An i7 4970K is more than enough IMHO. My planned build consists of one of these and I really don't think anything more than that is needed for your average gamer/video editor. Then again I'll be coming from a Intel Q6600 CPU and that will be quite a significant upgrade for me.

[Cheddle]

3.0x8x4x4 won't bottlneck anyway

xDMA bridgless corssfire can saturate pcie 3.0 x16/x16 - unless the 390x brings back the crossfite bridge then the added bus lanes are very relevant

[Litargirio]

I agree with this. An i7 4970K is more than enough IMHO. My planned build consists of one of these and I really don't think anything more than that is needed for your average gamer/video editor.

Even for "hardcore" or competitive gamers, it more than enough. If you hook it up to two r9 290s or gtx 970s/980s you can game on 1440p at 120fps or 4K at 60fps perfectly [provided you turn off AA, which you won't need anyway].

[Litargirio]

OP, if you really want to go overkill, get a 4930K or a 4960X. Both will give you the extra lanes without having to waste money. Don't go X99.

[Lays]

3000$ is definitely not going to get you a custom loop with 3 gpu and x99, you're looking at close to 4 or 5k, and the pc just won't be worth anywhere near that in a year or so.

Save your money and get a 4790k and two 970 or 980.

[Recon97]

Get something cheaper right now that can run games quite well, save money and wait for Intel skylake and new nvidia cards.